Disintegrating cartridge belt link and connector therefor



May 11, 1965 J. G. ROCHA 3,182,556

DISINTEGRATING CARTRIDGE BELT LINK AND CONNECTOR THEREFOR Filed July 5, 1961 24 IiE l IO g I2 2 I H I! a' $3 48 a 5' 48 4 I'M! l"! INVENTOR. Juhn ELRDBl'lEL having a variable output.

United States Patent ,0

3,182,556 DISINTEGRATING CARTRIDGE BELT LINK AND QQNNECTOR THEREFGR John G. Rocha, Westfield, Mass, assiguor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed July 5, 1961, Ser. No. 124,290

'7 (Zlaims. (Cl. 89-315) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to linked cartridge belts for automatic guns and is more particularly directed to the means for connecting a plurality of cartridges into a disintegrating belt.

As more fully explained in my copending patent application for Motor Driven Gun, Serial No. 90,147, filed February 17, 1961, it has been found possible to vary the rate of fire of an automatic gun in a predetermined manner if the barrel is longitudinally reciprocated by a revolving drum which is, in turn, driven by an electric motor In this gun, the barrel is arranged to be actuated forwardly out of firing position and returned rearwardly thereto to chamber the leading cartridge in a linked belt.

In order to achieve a maximum rate of fire, the travel of the barrel in either direction must be held to a minimum. Consequently, the feeding movement of the cartridge belt must be accomplished in the smallest possible interval of time. It has been found that this can be successfully accomplished if the separation between the adjacent linked cartridges in the belt is effected after the leading cartridge has been advanced into position to be chambered by the return of the barrel to the firing position.

Accordingly, it is a major object of this invention to provide a linked cartridge belt for use with an automatic gun wherein disintegration of the belt is effected by the breech closing movement of the barrel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a link for a cartridge belt of the aforesaid type which will remain in continuous engagement with the cartridge without interference with the chambering thereof by the barrel.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a connector which will securely couple the links on adjacent cartridges throughout the relative twisting and turning encountered during the feeding thereof into the gun and yet will readily permit the uncoupling of adjacent cartridges whenever of the links thereon is forced rearwardly therealong.

The specific nature of the invention as Well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the cartridge feedway of an automatic gun cut away to illustrate the linked cartridge belt with the leading cartridge therein advanced to the firing position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken along line 22 in FIG. 1 showing the details of the connector assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and showing the means for connecting adjacent cartridges;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 to illustrate the exterior configuration of the link; and

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 3 but showing an alternate type of connector.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a gun barrel is slidably mounted for reciprocal movement in a receiver 12 having a feedway 14 extending transversely therethrough. A pair of spaced parallel tracks 16 are transversely formed in the 3,132,556 Patented May ll, 1965 rear end of feedway 14 for slidably receiving the project ing annular rim 18 provided at the base of each of the cartridges 20. A feed tray 22 is attached to the side of receiver 12 by T-slot means 23 (FIG. 4) and is releasably secured in place by a spring-biased plunger 24. The floor of feed tray 22 is provided with a transversely extending rectangular plate 26 for guiding the cartridges 2i] therethrough and theinner end of plate 26 terminates in an angular cam surface 28 designed to provide a relatively smooth transfer of cartridges 20 into engagement with tracks 16.

As explained in greater detail in my copending patent application, Serial No. 116,844, filed June 13, 1961 for Feed Mechanism for an Externally Powered Automatic Gun, barrel 10 is longitudinally reciprocated into and out of firing position by a revolving drum (not shown) which is also utilized to properly coordinate the feed movement of the leading cartridge with the reciprocation of the barrel.

It is apparent that the cartridge feeding requirements of this type of gun do not permit the leading cartridge to be delinked from the remainder of the cartridge belt prior to reaching the chambering position thereof. Instead, this function is performed by the rearward movement of barrel 14 into chambering position. Accordingly, each cartridge 20 is resiliently engaged by a substantially circular band 34 having arcuately formed integral ear portions 32 on opposite sides thereof. The rear edge of band 30 is rectangularly recessed on opposite sides thereof, as indi cated at 34, to provide clearance for tracks 16 in receiver 12 when such band is in the rearmost position thereof as illustrated in FIG. 1. If found necessary, the resilient grip of band 3% on cartridge 24 may be materially increased by crimping the forward edge of band 3t) into the annular groove 36 provided in the case portion of cartridge 20 as best shown at 38 in FIG. 2. At the same time the rear edge of band 30 may be flared outwardly, as shown at 40, away from contact with cartridge 20 in order to minimize the friction encountered as hand 30 is forced rearwardly therealong in a manner to be shown.

The length of ear portions 32 is reduced at both the front and rear to accommodate a substantially C-shaped key 42 formed of relatively heavy round wire terminating in an enlarged circular flange 44 at each end thereof.

Since the distance between the peripheral edges of flanges 44 is slightly smaller than the longitudinal extent of ear portion 32, one of the flanges 44 is chordally cut, as indicated at 46 in FIG. 2, to permit assembly of key 42 into ear portion 32. The diameter of the body portion of key 42 is, of course, substantially smaller than the corresponding arcuate extent of ear portion 32.

Adjacent cartridges 20 are loosely coupled by a connector 48 of rectangularly channeled cross-section 50 doubled about the central portion thereof into a U-shaped member wherein the channeled sides thereof are spaced apart to provide a relatively narrow slot 52 therebetween of lesser width than the diameter of the wire from which key 42 is formed. The closed end of slot 52 is arcuately enlarged as indicated at 54 to an extent greater than the diameter of key 42 but less than that of the corresponding flange 44 thereon. The open end of slot 52 is similarly enlarged by oppositely disposed V-shaped notches 56 where the outer sides thereof are extended to a slightly greater length than the inner sides. Thus, the width of the entry 58 into the open end of slot 52 is smaller than that throughout the remainder of slot 52.

Once keys 42 have been assembled to ear portions 32, band 39 is forced rearwardly along cartridge 20 until the crimped front edge 38 thereon enters into annular groove 36. Thereafter, the open end of connector 43 is placed over the flanged rear end 44 of key 42 and the connector forced forwardly to resiliently separate slot 52 therealong 3 until the flanged ends 44 of key 42 are respectively disposed in openings 54 and 56. Alternately, the same result may be achieved through the use of any tool capable of spreading connector 48 apart to the extent required. A stop-bar 60 is arranged to extend transversely through connector 48 and is formed with. bent-over tabs 62 at each end to limit the extent to which connector 48 may be pried apart.

One of the keys 42 on a second cartridge 20 is then assembled into connector 48 in a similar manner and this is repeated for successive cartridges until the desired length of cartridge belt is reached.

When keys 42 on a pair of adjacent cartridges are fully assembled into a single connector 48, the enlarged areas 54 and 56 therein permit relative longitudinal movement between cartridges 20 to a limited extent. At the same time, the loose fit of keys 42 in ear portions 32 of band 30 permits relative pivotal movement of cartridges 20 in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. Further more, the loose fit between keys 42 and band 30 also permits limited fanwise flexibility of the cartridges 20 thereby providing a. belt which will readily respond to the twists and turns normally encountered in feeding cartridges from a storage area remote form and at a different level than the feeding entry to the gun.

During movement of barrel to the rear, the breech end thereof strikes the exposed portions of keys 42 and forces the entire band 30 rearwardly along the leading cartridge to disengage connector 48 from key 42 on the adjacent cartridge. The breech end of barrel 10 is, of course, suitably cut away to reach firing position without interference by band and keys 42 associated therewith. After the leading cartridge 20 is fired and barrel 10 advanced to clear the nose of the projectile, the successive feeding movement imparted to the cartridge belt serves to eject the fired cartridge case with band 30 still attached thereto.

While the optimum coupling of adjacent cartridges 20 is achieved by connector 48, satisfactory results can also be obtained with a simpler connector 64 of the. type illustrated in FIG. 5 which eliminates the necessity for separate keys 42. Instead, the coupling engagement between adjacent cartridges is achieved by forming connector 64 as a C-shaped member with linearly elongated arms 66 arranged to loosely extend through ear portions 32-. As best shown at 68, one of arms 66 is bent inwardly in order to prevent connector 64 from disengaging from ear portion 32after band 30 is assembled to cartridge 20. The opposite arm 66 is additionally extended in a linear manner and the end portion thereof is covered with a'suitable resilient plastic material 70 to such depth thatthe overall diameter of arm 66 is slightly greater than the opening provided by ear portion 32 to prevent premature disengagement therebetween. This result is achieved despite reasonable variation in the tolerances of the diameter of key 42 or the opening formed by ear portion 32. 7. Separation of the leading cartridge from the belt is,

end of connector 64 to be pulled through ear portion 32 thereby disengaging the leading cartridge from the remainder of 'the belt.

Thus, there is here provided an improved means for linking successive cartridges into a continuous articulated belt particularly adapted for use in an automatic gun of the type wherein the barrel moves rearwardly to chamber a stationary cartridge previously advanced to the firing position. The leading cartridge can be readily separated 7 however, accomplished in substantially the same manner i :2. from the remainder of the belt without the necessity for removing the link therefrom thereby eliminating the customary additional system for controlling and ejecting the empty links from the gun. 7

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. A disintegrating cartridge belt. for feeding cartridges into an automatic gun having a reciprocating barrel adapted to be moved rearwardly into firing position to chamber the leading cartridge, said belt comprising a resilient band encircling each of the cartridges in gripping engagement therewith, an arcuate formed ear portion projecting outwardly from opposite sides of each of said bands into the path of the rearward chambering movement of the barrel for rearward displacement thereby along the cartridge, connector means in simultaneous engagement with said opposite ear portions on adjacent cartridges, said connector means having a forwardly facing opening to permit the longitudinal release thereof from said band on the cartridge adjacent the leading cartridge during the chambering movement of the barrel, and retention means for continuing the engagement between said connector means and said band on the leading cartridge during the rearward displacement imparted thereto by the barrel.

2. The cartridge belt defined in claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises an integral member having first and second spaced apart elongated arms, said first arm being in pivotal engagement with said ear portion on said band encircling the leading cartridge and said second arm being in similar pivotal engagement With said ear portion on said band encircling the adjacent cartridge, a curved end on said first arm for preventing disengagement thereof from said ear portion, and a resilient coating on said second arm of sufficient thickness to normally prevent disengagement thereof from said ear portion during feeding of the cartridge belt into the gun but insuificient to prevent subsequent disengagement when said band on the leading cartridge is forced rearwardly therealong.

3. The cartridge belt defined in claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a substantially Q-shaped key respectively disposed in pivotal engagement with each .of said ear portions on said bands encircling the leading cartridge and the cartridge adjacent thereto, a connector slidably engageable with adjacent ones of said keys, and means in said connector for resiliently restraining the disassembly of said keys therefrom until said band'is forced rearwardly along the leading cartridge by the chambering movement of the barrel.

4. In a disintegrating cartridge belt for feeding cartridges into an automatic gun having a reciprocating barrel adapted to be moved rearwardly into firing position to chamber the leading cartridge, the combination of a a resilient band encircling each of the cartridges in gription doubled about the central portion thereof to form a longitudinal slot extending transversely therethrough for the slidable passage of said keys, and means in said connector for releasably retaining said keys in assembled relation therewith during the feeding movements of the cartridge belt, said key retaining means being inactivated during the rearward movement of said band on the leading cartridge whereby said connector is disengaged from said' key in said band on the cartridge adjacent to the leading cartridge.

5. In a disintegrating cartridge belt for feeding cartridges into an automatic gun having a reciprocating barrel adapted to be moved rearwardly into firing position to chamber the leading cartridge, the combination of a substantially circular band encircling each of the cartridges and in resilient gripping engagement therewith, said band being arcuately enlarged at opposite sides thereof to form longitudinal earlike passages, a substantially C-shaped key having an elongated body portion pivotally disposed in each of said passages, said key terminating in a circular flange at each end thereof of larger diameter than said passages in said band to prevent disassembly therefrom after a cartridge is inserted therein, a connector of channel-shaped section doubled about the central portion thereof to form a rectangular interior for slidably receiving said flanges on the ends of said keys, said rectangular interior of said connector including a transverse slot of lesser vertical width than said flanged ends of said keys whereby disassembly therebetween is limited to movement in the longitudinal direction, said slot being of reduced vertical width at the open end thereof to resiliently restrain said keys against premature disassembly from said connector, said reduced width portion of said transverse slot having converging cam surfaces engageable with said key during rearward movement of said connector together with said band on the leading cartridge whereby said slot is resiliently spread to permit exit therefrom of said key on the cartridge adjacent the leading cartridge, and means for limiting the spread of said connector.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein one of said circular flanges on the ends of said key is chordally slabbed to facilitate insertion into said earlike passages in said bands.

7. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a stop-bar passing transversley through said connector and terminating in bentover tabs at each end thereof. 

1. A DISINTEGRATING CARTRIDGE BELT FOR FEEDING CARTRIDGES INTO AN AUTOMATIC GUN HAVING A RECIPROCATING BARREL ADAPTED TO BE MOVED REARWARDLY INTO FIRING POSITION TO CHAMBER THE LEADING CARTRIDGE, SAID BELT COMPRISING A RESILIENT BAND ENCIRCLING EACH OF THE CARTRIDGES IN GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, AN ARCUATE FORMED EAR PORTION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH OF SAID BANDS INTO THE PATH OF THE REARWARD CHAMBERING MOVEMENT OF THE BARREL FOR REARWARD DISPLACEMENT THEREBY ALONG THE CARTRIDGE, CONNECTOR MEANS IN SIMULTANEOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPPOSITE EAR PORTIONS ON ADJACENT CARTRIDGES, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING A FORWARDLY FACING OPENING TO PERMIT THE LONGITUDINAL RELEASE THEREOF FROM SAID BAND ON THE CARTRIDGE ADJACENT THE LEADING CARTRIDGE DURING THE CHAMBERING MOVEMENT OF THE BARREL, AND RETENTION MEANS FOR CONTINUING THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID CONNECTOR MEANS AND SAID BAND ON THE LEADING CARTRIDGE DURING THE REARWARD DISPLACEMENT IMPARTED THERETO BY THE BARREL. 